Heater for automobiles.



J. R. CRElGHTON.

HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-3.1916.

1 ,E 1,6 9 1 Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

a w ue Moz J. F6 CRElGHTQN THEM JAMES R. CREIGH'IDN, OF QAMBRIDGE, ILLINOIS.

HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 3, 1916. Serial N 0. 69,923.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that-.1. James R. CREIGI-ITON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Henry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to heaters for automobiles and more particularly to a foot warmer of that type which is supplied with the heating medium from the engine exhaust pipe of the vehicle.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a heater for vehicles of the above type, which is so constructed and arranged that a maximum heating capacity .is assured, while, at the same time, all

liability of-burning the floor or bed of the machine or the shoes of the occupant, is obviated.

The invention has for another important object to provide a heater of the above charactei' having certain improved structural features whereby the escape of the exhaust gases from the hot air chamber of the heater into the interior of the vehicle will be effectively precluded. I

It is still another object of the invention to provide a heater for motor vehicles, which is simple and durable in its construe tion, highly'serviceable and convenient in practical use, and capable of manufacture at relatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which, I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a heater constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 1, with the cut-ofl valve closed; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 4l4 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detailto the drawing, 5 designates the base plate of the heater proper and 6 the upper or top plate which is formed adjacent its outer edge with an inclined flange 7 having an annular laterally prorests upon the edge jecting rim 8. This rim of the base plate 5 and is permanently welded to said base plate. The top plate 6 is suitably spaced from the base plate 5 to provide the hot air chamber 9, and over this top wall and in spaced relation thereto, .a protecting plate of sheet metal, indicated at 10, is arranged, said sheet metal plate being provided with a plurality of perforatrons, indicated at 11. drawing, I have shown the heater as of rectangular form in plan, and the protecting sheet metal plate or casing 10 is open at its opposite ends. It will be understood, however, that the heater may also be constructed in various other forms or shapes. The longitudinal edge portions of the perforated protecting plate 10 are downwardly and outwardly inclined, as at 12, and provided with outwardly projecting lateral flanges 13 which rest upon the rim 8 of the top wall 6 of the heater.

Upon the bottom face of the base plate 5, a sheet of insulating material I l is arranged, and an imperforate sheet metal plate 15 is engaged upon this sheet of insulating mate rial and holds the same in place. The edges of this sheet metal plate are turned upwardly and inwardly over the wedged edges of the plates 5 and 6, and upon the flanges 13 of the plate 10 and tightly crimped thereon, thereby holding all parts in assembled relation and against relative movement. The sheet 14 may be of asbestos or any other suitable insulating medium and it is pr0- vided for the purpose of preventing overheating and possible ignition of the Wood floor of the vehicle. The plate 15, the insulating sheet 14: and the base wall 5 of the heater are provided adjacent their opposite ends with coinciding openings. An inlet pipe 16 is disposed through the openings at'oneend of the heater and securely welded or otherwise permanently fixed to the base wall 5. This pipe is connected by a length of flexible tubing 17 to an upwardly projecting nipple 18 suitably connected to the exhaust pipe E extending from the vehicle engine. In the nipple 18, a rotatable valve plate 19 is arranged and is adapted to Patented a a, mic.

In'the accompanying.

open or cut off communication between the plvotally connected. The spring 22 is also attached at one end to the lower end of said lever and has its other end suitably fixed from the pipe E to the pipe 16 and hence to the chamber 9 of the heater. At the opposite end of the'heater, the outlet pipe 25, ex-

tending upwardly through the vehicle floor and the opening in the base wall of the heater, is connected, preferably by welding the end of the pipe to said base wall.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of operation and .several advantages of the invention will be clearly and fully understood. The exhaust entering the chamber 9, in its passage therethrough highly heats the top wall 6 of the chamber before being discharged to the atmosphere from the outlet pipe 25, and thus heat is given off from said wall'throngh the openings in the plate 10 and the open ends of said protecting plate or housing. The feet placed upon this perforated plate will be comfortably heated but Without danger of burning the soles of the shoes; As before stated,,the provision of the insulating sheet 14 also prevents overheating of the car floor. As the top and bottom plates of the heater chamber are securely welded together, the chamber is rendered absolutely air-tight at its edges, so that the exhaust gases can only escape through 'the outlet pipe 25.

, From the above, it will be seen that I have produced a very simply constructed, as well as serviceable and convenient heater for motor vehicles, which may be readily applied to the ordinary automobile at minimum expense and without necessitating any material alterations in the construction thereof. In actual practice, the device has been found well adapted for the purpose, as it will quickly heat the interior of the vehicle to a comfortable degree when communication is opened between the heater chamber and the exhaust pipe. It is, of

By disengaging the dog 2i course, apparent that the heater may .be made in various s zes in accordance with the side and capacity of the machine. The de-- vice is alsosusceptible of many other modifications in the form, proportion and arrangement of; the several structural features thereof and L therefore, reserve'the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by" Letters Patent is 1. A heater {of the character described comprising spaced top and bottom plates, said top plate having marginal flanges permanently welded to the edges of the bottom plate, a perforated radiator plate open at its ends extending over and in spaced relation to the topplate, said radiator plate having downwardly projecting, longitudinal flanges engaged upon the longitudinal edges of the top plate, an insulating sheet engaged upon thebottom face of the bottom plate, a. sheet ire al plate extending over the insulating sheet and having marginal portions thereof bent upwardly and inwardly upon the longitudinal flanges of the radiator plate to retain the latter in place, and means for supplying a heating medium to the space between said top and'bottom plates.

. 2. A heater of the character described including spaced top and bottom plates, said top plate being permanently welded at its edges to the bottom plate, a perforated radiator plate arranged over the top plate in spaced relation thereto and having downwardly projecting fianges'engaged upon the edge of said top plate, an insulating sheet engaged upon the bottom face of the base plate, a metal sheet covering said insulating sheet and having its edges upwardly and in \vardly bent and crimped upon the edges of said radiator plate to secure the latter in place, and an inlet pipe for the heating medium connected to one end of the base plate and an outlet pipe connected to the opposite end of said plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. CREIGHTON. 

